Man Utd defender Eric Bailly to miss rest of season and Africa Cup of Nations with medial ligament injury from Chelsea match
ERIC BAILLY has a medial knee ligament injury that means he will miss the final two games of the season and this summer’s African Cup of Nations.
The Ivory Coast star limped out of Sunday’s match with Chelsea and his worst fears were confirmed after a scan on his right knee.
Manchester United are hopeful that the centre-back will be fit to go on the club’s pre-season tour in mid-July.
Bailly has been beset by injury problems this season but returned to action yesterday for his first game since the start of last month.
He was visibly distressed when he got the injury after challenging Mateo Kovacic and now faces another extended period sidelined.
After the incident, Solskjaer said: “He will be out for the rest of the season. I don’t think we will see him again before next season.
“But he is a warrior, he played well today, he was calm, he was composed and it was just unfortunate that he had to come off.”
The 25-year-old will miss the remaining Premier League games away to Huddersfield and home to Cardiff.
And he will not be able to represent Ivory Coast at this summer’s tournament in Egypt from 21 June to 19 July.
latest man utd news
He would have faced South Africa, Morocco and Namibia in the group stage of the 24-team tournament.
SunSport exclusively revealed that Arsenal were planning a cut-price deal for the centre-back this summer.
But his injury could force Gunners boss Unai Emery to look elsewhere for defensive reinforcements.